Rig-Vedi.—Sectarian division of Brāhmans.
Rikhiāsan Mahatwār.—Subcaste of Bhuiya.
Ritha Bīknath.—One who prepares and sells soap-nuts for washing clothes. Subcaste of Jogi.
Rohidāsi.—Honorific term for a Chamār. It signifies a follower of the sect of Rohidās in Northern India. The Chamārs often describe themselves by this name instead of their caste name.
Rohilla.—A Pathan tribe who have settled in Rohilkhand or the Bareilly tract of the United Provinces. They derive their name from Roh, the designation given to the country where the Pushto language is spoken by residents of Hindustān. The word Roh, like Koh, means a mountain, and Rohilla therefore signifies a highlander.[77] The Rohilla Pathāns occupied Rohilkhand in the eighteenth century. Their name first attracted attention when Warren Hastings was charged with hiring out British troops for their suppression. The Rohillas say that they are of Coptic origin, and that driven out of Egypt by one of the Pharaohs they wandered westward till they arrived under that part of the mountains of Afghānistān known as Sulaimani Koh.[78] Parties of Rohillas visit the Central Provinces bringing woollen cloths and dried fruits for sale. Here they formerly bore a bad character, being accustomed to press the sale of their merchandise on the villagers on credit at exorbitant interest; and when the time for realisation came, to extort their money by threats of violence, or actual assault, or, if this was not practicable, by defiling the graves of their debtors’ ancestors. These practices have now, however, been largely suppressed.
Romya or Haralya.—Subcaste of Chamār.
Ror.—Subcaste of Khatri.
Rora.—Synonym of Arora.
Rūma.—A resident of Bāsim and Gāngra in Amraoti District. Subcaste of Korku.
Ruthia.—A name formed from the noise rut, rut made by the oil-mill in turning. Subcaste of Teli.